Joint statement on the food and nutritional situation in the Sahel and in West Africa (by the CILSS and ECOWAS member countries and their partners)

Eastern Sahel threatened by food and pastoral crisis

Following the 2009‐2010 cropping season millions of people in the pastoral and agro‐pastoral areas are in food insecurity in Niger, Chad and in the North East of Mali. CILSS and its partners are renewing their appeal for an urgent response to tackle this situation.

Cereal production in the Sahel and in West Africa at the aftermath of the 2009‐2010 cropping season is estimated at 51 101 000 tonnes broken down as follows: 10,867,000 tonnes for rice, 15, 790, 000 tonnes for maize and 26, 626, 000 tonnes for other cereals. This total cereal production has dropped by 2% when compared to that of last year.

In the countries of the Sahel, this cereal production is estimated at sixteen (16) million tonnes and has dropped by 9% relative to that of last year and has risen by 11% when compared to the average of the past five (5) years. However, despite this average level of production, very significant drops in cereal productions ranging between 31% to 34% compared to last year have been recorded in Niger and in Chad. The deficit is even more pronounced in the sahelian parts of these countries.